Carlo Ancelotti is battling his old employers AC Milan in the race to bring Lyon talisman Memphis Depay to Everton, according to Calciomercato.
There is a reason why Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is absolutely raging about the curtailment of the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season.
The LFP’s decision to decide the campaign on a Points per Game basis in April means Les Gones have finished a distant seventh, missing out on European football for the first time in the 21st century.
And, as Aulas has pointed out until he is blue in the face, this means Lyon may be forced to sell their prized assets in order to compensate for the loss of Champions League riches. Considering that Depay is set to become a free agent in 2021, he could be the first out the door.
The Dutch international certainly won’t be short of offers.
He had been in the form of his life this season before suffering a serious injury around Christmas, scoring 14 goals in all competitions including five in five Champions League group-stage matches.
Calciomercato reports that Lyon want £25 million, with Ancelotti’s Everton going head-to-head with Milan for his sought-after signature.
Everton famously missed out on signing Depay after a disappointing spell at Premier League rivals Manchester United three years ago, with ex-Toffees coach Ronald Koeman admitting to the Star that he was interested.
Koeman, at least, did end up sharing a dressing room with the former PSV Eindhoven talisman, coaxing the brilliant best out of a forward who has dragged Holland out of the mud and back towards the top of European football.
“He’s a joy to watch. He’s great, he’s turning into a top player,” Koeman told Goal.
“I once talked to him when we wanted to bring him in at Everton from Man United and we immediately had a connection.”
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